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CAPE CANAVERAL — Last-minute leak repairs have again pushed back space shuttle Discovery’s final launch, this time until Wednesday. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration delayed Discovery’s flight to the international space station because more work was needed to replace a pair of leaking pipe hookups near the tail, NASA test director Jeff Spaulding said yesterday. This will be Discovery’s 39th and final mission. NASA is retiring the shuttle fleet next year. NASA has until Nov. 7 to launch Discovery. Otherwise the flight will be pushed to December because of unacceptable sun angles.

ARIZONA

Immigration law in appeals court

PHOENIX — Arizona’s tough and controversial new immigration law will get its day before a San Francisco appeals court tomorrow, with the central issue being just what role state and local authorities can play in confronting those who cross the border illegally. A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will consider Governor Jan Brewer’s appeal of a ruling that put parts of the law on hold. Among the blocked provisions is the requirement that police — in enforcing other laws — must question the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally. When the law was signed by Brewer on April 23, it touched off a national furor with supporters calling for similar legislation for their own states and detractors calling for an economic boycott of Arizona.

COLORADO

Residents return home despite fire

BOULDER — About 1,700 people evacuated because of a wildfire west of the city are being allowed to return to their homes after firefighters worked through the night to stop the blaze from spreading. Lessening winds and higher humidity helped keep the 144-acre fire from spreading yesterday. It is now 70 percent contained. Concerns about high winds spreading the flames prompted the evacuations in the west part of Boulder and in the mountains west of the city when two fires started separately Friday, then merged into one. No buildings have burned.

GEORGIA

Firefighter plans appeal in video case

ATLANTA — A Georgia firefighter plans to appeal his dismissal for taking a cellphone video of a woman killed in a car crash. The video was later seen by the woman’s parents. Firefighter Terrence Reid will challenge the decision by Spalding County officials to fire him effective Nov. 7. His attorney, M. Michael Kendall, said the punishment is too harsh. Dayna Kempson-Schacht, 23, died July 17 when her Jeep crashed into trees. Kendall said the firefighter took video of the scene with his cellphone and shared the video with just three or four people, but the video spread until it was eventually forwarded to the woman’s parents.